Lightyear Frontier Hands-On Preview: "Worth Watching"

The early access release of has illuminated much more about what the highly-anticipated interstellar title has to offer. The debut release from FRAME BREAK, a subsidiary of Amplifier Game Invest, gives many classic conventions of its genre fun, technological twists through its mech-based mechanics. They're overall quite satisfying, and exploring the alien world is a relaxing yet engaging journey. As is to be expected from an early access game, there are elements that could use more expansion, but it currently has a very strong foundation to build on.

begins with the player crash landing on a mysterious planet, where they must gather and reassemble the pieces of their mech. Once reunited, they'll begin the task of building up a homestead and restoring areas in the world that have become overrun with weeds and slime. It's very much a game about going at one's own pace, with no time limits, enemies, or stamina constraints — players don't even need to sleep. The only real limits are based around the upgrades given to the mech, which are necessary for some activities and progression.

Though mostly working entirely alone on the planet — unless players opt to make a co-op settlement with a few friends — there are occasional visits from satellite PIP-3R, who, after orbiting the deserted world for decades, is extremely excited to have company and will offer occasional tips and insights into the planet's history. The lore found throughout is somewhat sparse, but hints that there's more to be discovered in the future about the prior inhabitants of the planet. The world is dotted with ruins from a past society, and there are areas on the map slated to open in future updates.

There's a big focus on the planet's overall ecosystem, not just in terms of weeds and slime but also its many animal inhabitants. Each area has nests of different creatures that can be fed, and satiating hunger in each region can help make resources regenerate faster; players will also find a myriad of